William Ruto

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William Ruto
Ruto in 2023
5th President of Kenya
Assumed office
13 September 2022
DeputyRigathi Gachagua
Preceded byUhuru Kenyatta
Deputy President of Kenya
In office
9 April 2013 – 13 September 2022
PresidentUhuru Kenyatta
Preceded byKalonzo Musyoka (Vice President)
Succeeded byRigathi Gachagua
Minister for Higher Education
In office
21 April 2010 – 19 October 2010
PresidentMwai Kibaki
Prime MinisterRaila Odinga
Succeeded byHellen Jepkemoi Sambili (acting)
Minister of Agriculture
In office
17 April 2008 – 21 April 2010
PresidentMwai Kibaki
Prime MinisterRaila Odinga
Preceded byKipruto Rono Arap Kirwa
Succeeded byMargret Nyambura
Minister of Home Affairs
In office
30 August 2002 – December 2002
PresidentDaniel Toroitich arap Moi
Preceded byGeorge Saitoti
Succeeded byMoody Awori
Member of Parliament
for Eldoret North
In office
1998–2013
Preceded byReuben Chesire
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born
William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto

(1966-12-21) 21 December 1966 (age 57)
Kamagut, Kenya
Political partyKenya African National Union (before 2005)
Orange Democratic Movement (2005–2011)
United Republican Party (2012–2016)
Jubilee Party (2016–2021)
United Democratic Alliance (2021–present)
Spouse(s)
Rachel Chebet (m. 1991)
Children7
EducationUniversity of Nairobi (BSc, MSc, PhD)

William Samoei arap Ruto (born 21 December 1966) is a Kenyan politician who is the 5th President of Kenya since 2022. He was the Deputy President of Kenya from 2013 to 2022.

Before becoming Deputy President, he had many ministerial positions including the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Higher Education. He was Secretary General of KANU, the former ruling political party. Ruto was a member of Parliament for Eldoret North Constituency between December 1997 and January 2013. He won the seat in the 1997 Kenyan election after defeating Reuben Chesire.

Ruto was charged with crimes including murder by the International Criminal Court. The trial has been ongoing since 10 September 2013.[1] The charges against him were dropped in 2016 due to lack of evidence by Fatou Bensouda.

On 12 April 2022, Kenya Kwanza political coalition endorsed Ruto as its presidential candidate for 2022 elections. He would win the election with 50.5% of the vote, beating former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in August 2022.[2]

References[change | change source]

  1. "Trial in the Ruto and Sang case: Relevant information and materials". International Criminal Court. Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  2. "Kenya's deputy president Ruto declared election winner". AP NEWS. 2022-08-15. Retrieved 2022-08-15.